Published 6:00 pm, Sunday, December 10, 2000

Even seasonal gray skies on a dreary Wednesday morning could not put a damper on the enthusiasm of those attending the official opening of the new Northeast Minor Emergency Center in Humble.

By MARTIN L. de VORE

A crowd of more than 70 squeezed into the lobby area of the new facility, located at 9745 FM 1960 West, to witness the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newest addition to NEMCH's considerable medical resources in Humble.

Although Wednesday was he official grand opening, the facility actually began serving the public on Monday, attending to the health needs of 22 patients.

"We had people knocking on the doors before we were even open," said NEMCH Administrator Syble Missildine. "We feel that there's a need for this facility which will serve as an adjunct to our services at the main facility. Building a center like this in Humble allows us to get closer to our patients. With the center in this community, Humble-area residents will be able to have their minor emergencies handled in a convenient location."

City of Humble City Manager James Baker echoed Missildine's assessment.

"This facility is very good for the city of Humble," Baker said, "It will help serve our citizens' needs for minor emergency medical needs and it's in a really great location."

The Humble Center, a service of NEMCH, houses treatment rooms and a laboratory in a 3700-sq.-ft. building in the Deerbrook Plaza Shopping Center, located between Cancun's Mexican Restaurant and the Outback Steakhouse. The medical director of the Humble Center is David C. Wilkinson, M.D., who is board certified in internal medicine. The facility will be managed by Mark Jensen, R.N., director of the Northeast Minor Emergency Centers.

"The Humble Center, like all of our minor emergency centers, is open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. We will be able to handle everything from sinus infections and earaches to school physicals and worker compensation," said Jensen.

He continued, "Our clinic is ideal for those occasions when an individual or family needs health care services such as on weekends, evenings and holidays."

More serious emergency cases can be handled at Northeast's 24-hour emergency department located at the main campus of Northeast Medical Center Hospital in Humble, Jensen said.

"This is a great asset to the community," said Humble City Councilman Allen Lee. "It is convenient and it should help take some of the load off of Northeast's main ER on busy days."

Northeast Minor Emergency Centers are open seven days a week, 12 hours a day, with no appointment and on a first-come, first-served basis. The Humble Center accepts most managed care plans, Medicare and Medicaid. Its services include:

Eight examination and treatment rooms

Visitor reception registration and waiting area

Laboratory

Physician offices

Business office area

For more information about the Northeast Minor Emergency Center-Humble, or to make an appointment with a NEMCH physician, call the Northeast Physician referral and Information Line at 281-540-7868 or visit Northeast's Web site at www.nemch.org.